Waterloo Goods Gateway

Realised in etched concrete with blasts of bright orange paint, the Waterloo Goods artwork stretches the entire length of Great Howard Street Bridge; creating a striking welcome to the city of Liverpool for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians alike.

The artwork takes its name from the Waterloo Goods line, the now defunct train line which ran below the bridge, a once key artery for the city as it carried goods from the thriving docks to the wider country.

Giant parrots sit side-by-side with local landmarks such as the Mersey Tunnel ventilation shafts and a 1950’s sugar silo – combining the exotic imports found at the dock with the architecture nearby, creating a unique and reverent homage to the cities dockland culture and spirit.

Designed by BCA Landscape and Smiling Wolf for Liverpool City Council and implemented on site with Amey, Graham Construction and stone/concrete specialist Hardscape’

Find out more about the project here

May 16th 2018July 6th 2022

Welcome to Madagascar

“We do not stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing”.

– George Bernard Shaw

There’s so much to discover in our brand new PLAY! space at Chester Zoo. Climb like a lemur and uncover the tree-top hideaways in the Lost Forest, crawl across the scramble nets like an aye-aye and play in the sandy beach like a ploughshare tortoise! (Animal impressions encouraged.) Make a BIG splash in the dry river bed or play hide and seek in the Madagascan grasses. There’s even chance to explore the Madagascar field station and find challenge boxes with a few wildlife surprises to discover.

Having fun is no trivial pursuit. Most of us think of adult play as respite or indulgence, but having fun is no trivial pursuit. In fact, it’s crucial to our mental health and happiness. The project expands the variety and type of play offer that was previously in the zoo and encourages higher forms of imaginary and creative social play within a series of exciting and flexible spaces.

Through creative innovation and careful design consideration it combines and balances all the latest thinking and research in the realms of the psychology of play and communication friendly spaces, with the needs of the zoo and its staff and a fascinating and playful exploration of the wonderful island of Madagascar.

Find out more about the project here

May 16th 2018July 6th 2022

LI Awards Winner

We are delighted to announce The Rotunda Community Campus in Kirkdale, Liverpool has won the Design Category [for a small scale development] in the 2016 National Landscape Institute Awards.

A big well done and thankyou to everyone who has been part of making this wonderful project a reality, including all the volunteers, funders and project team.

The Judges said:

“This is a garden with a heart and soul and is not just an outdoor room but an outdoor house with a kitchen, living room, larder and playroom.”

Landscape Institute – Design Award Winner 2016 – Case Study

Find out more about the project here

May 16th 2018July 6th 2022

D&Ad 2018

BCAL have scooped a coveted award in the global design industry ‘oscars’.

A collaborative design work with our friends at Liverpool design agency, Smiling Wolf, ‘The Voyage’ has been recognised as a winner in the 2018 D&AD Awards.

The D&AD (Design and Art Directors) is a professional organisation which represents the global advertising, design and digital industries. Its annual awards are the ultimate creative accolade, with winners presented with an iconic pencil trophy, considered by many, to be the pinnacle of their professional achievement.

Within the awards category of Spatial Design / Design for Public Spaces, D&AD judges selected ‘The Voyage’ to receive a wood pencil award; which represents ‘creative excellence’ in advertising and design for the year.

Commissioned by Liverpool City Council to commemorate the centenary of the city’s Grade-II listed Cunard Building, The Voyage is the centrepiece of an urban landscape scheme that celebrates the golden age of transatlantic travel, which helped shape the city’s culture.

Joe Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool, said:

“I’m delighted that Smiling Wolf and BCA Landscape have been recognised internationally for the brilliant design work they delivered to mark the centenary of one of Liverpool’s greatest buildings.

I receive visitors from cities all over the world and the impression they have of Liverpool is formed by the experience of arriving at the Cunard Building – and they are always stunned by its beauty.

The design has certainly added to that impression and it’s always a thrill to know a Liverpool company has enhanced the appeal of our World Heritage site in this way.”

Find out more about the project here